In an election that largely preserved the status quo, it was the Green Party of Canada that may have received the greatest impact.
While the party managed to win two seats, picking up one in Ontario and withholding former leader Elizabeth May’s trip to Vancouver Island, its conflicting leader, Annamie Paul, failed to win her seat and the party’s share of the national vote. it plummeted to 2.3 from 6.5 percent.
That’s the lowest voter share for the Greens in more than 20 years, since they got 0.8 percent of the vote in 2000. The party’s highest percentage was 6.8 percent; in 2008, the May’s first pick as leader, followed by 6.5 in 2019, his last year at the helm.
In Ontario, candidate Mike Morrice scored a practical victory at the Kitchener Center on Monday night, but his celebration was in stark contrast to scenes in other parts of the country.
The party entered the elections with a cloud over its head. In June, he took steps that could have led to the removal of new leader Paul following comments on Palestine made by his top aide, which he did not denounce to the satisfaction of some members. That process was halted a month later, but by then, the party’s unity had been broken: the leader made counter-accusations of racism and sexism against the Greens establishment, and Fredericton Green’s MP Jenica Atwin went over to the Liberals. .
Paul also faced criticism for spending most of the campaign in Ontario (he made only two trips out of the province) and for failing to present a full list of Green candidates.
The party requires a vote on the leader within six months of an election. While it seems inevitable that his leadership will face increased scrutiny after the election, Paul did not address that prospect in his remarks Monday night.
“I would say that we return to the status quo, except that, sadly, we return more divided and polarized than before these elections are called,” he said.
“That’s certainly part of the legacy of this election, which I’ll say we shouldn’t have had, whether it sounds interested or not.”
In BC, Green Party incumbent Paul Manly appeared to be conceding the race at Nanaimo-Ladysmith, ranking third behind NDP candidate Lisa Marie Barron and conservative Tamara Kronis.
“I would like to thank my campaign team, all the volunteers who put their time, effort and heart into my campaign, and the voters of Nanaimo – Ladysmith who supported me. Even with 8000 special tickets left to count on Friday, the current margin will be difficult to beat, ”he posted on social media shortly before midnight in BC.
And in New Brunswick, new Green candidate Nicole O’Byrne was unable to regain the Fredericton seat that the Greens lost between elections when Atwin, elected as a Green MP in 2019, crossed the room to join the Liberals earlier this year. As of Tuesday morning, Atwin was still locked in an indecisive battle with conservative Andrea Johnson, with O’Byrne far behind in fourth place.
With files from Richard Warnica and The Canadian Press
Reference-www.thestar.com